A man is in critical but stable condition following a shooting incident that occurred Wednesday evening, Oct. 2, 2024, in downtown Calgary near the Calgary Leap Center. The neighborhood was horrified by the unexpected increase in gun violence, prompting a strong police response as investigators worked to piece together the details of this disturbing episode. It all started just before 6:00 p.m., when multiple reports of gunshots jammed the emergency lines, prompting officers from the Calgary Police Service (CPS) to race to the location near the well-known Drop-In Centre, a building dedicated to providing assistance to the city's homeless and vulnerable population.
The officers discovered an adult male victim of multiple gunshot wounds when they arrived at the scene. Police quickly evacuated the area despite the commotion and began treating the injured with first aid until emergency medical services (EMS) could get there. Despite fatal injuries, he was sent to a local hospital and is reported to be making a difficult but steady recovery. While trying to stop the bleeding and give the man vital care on the way to the hospital, the first responders and EMS personnel probably saved his life.
The identity of the victim has not been released, but detectives confirmed that he is still receiving special medical treatment while in intensive care. Additional police units were dispatched during the evening, and officers blocked off sections of the road in the city center, where they worked feverishly to gather evidence and look for possible witnesses who might have heard or seen something important to the case. Examining security camera footage from nearby homes and businesses, the investigators scanned the neighborhood in an attempt to put together a timeline of events that led to the incident.
The Calgary Drop-In Centre, also known as “The DI”, is a busy hub of activity in the city that offers vital support to people dealing with addiction, homelessness and poverty. People often use the various social services available around the facility, which is heavily trafficked by pedestrians. Unfortunately, there have also been isolated incidents of violence in this area; But, firing near such a vital support facility left many people uneasy.
Following the incident, local groups that closely assist vulnerable populations as well as government representatives from the community expressed their concerns. In a quick social media message, Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gundak assured citizens that the city is committed to maintaining public safety while addressing the alarming increase in violent incidents in certain areas of the city. Although violent crime is still relatively low in the city as a whole, the mayor's office stressed that every shooting near a place like the drip center raises serious concerns about the health of the community, the safety and well-being of the people who depend on it. these plans.
